“Join you?” Arthur blinked in surprise. He didn’t expect to hear that at all.
“I’m looking for strong people to join me. You are the best candidate I could find.” She replied casually. “It could benefit you as much as it will benefit me.”
“Hold your horses, Isla. Aren’t you jumping a few steps?” Arthur lifted his hand in confusion. Isla was moving way too quickly for his taste so he had to stop her. “I barely know you. Why would you want me to join your group?”
It didn’t make sense at all for Isla to request that from him. They had met yesterday and their meeting wasn’t even a friendly one as he almost killed her entire group. Yet, somehow, she was now asking him to join her. It sounded like a weird joke.
“Jumping a few steps?” Isla tilted her to the side as if she didn’t understand what Arthur was saying. “I believe this is a very natural development.”
“No, no, we were strangers barely a day ago. Why would you think I am going to be a good addition to your group?” Arthur asked.
“As I said, you are strong and I need strong people.”
“For what?” Arthur asked.
“Well… Many reasons that I cannot disclose yet. But, it will be beneficial to you too as I’m seeking to get as strong as possible in DO. If we help each other, I believe we can progress faster.”
Both of them knew that Divinity Online pushed players to make teams and guilds to tackle all kinds of challenges they might come across in the game. Being alone while possible, was very disadvantageous. Still, Arthur’s plan so far was to remain alone as he didn’t have any reason to join any group.
He didn’t have friends or acquaintances that he could play with and he didn’t care much about that.
Arthur took a moment to think about her words before he said. “I don’t believe that is that simple.” He shook his head.
“Why is that? I believe this is a pretty simple request.”
“No. Hmm, how should I phrase this not to sound obnoxious…” He rubbed the back of his head. “Let’s say that I might get in more trouble if I join your group than I will if I don’t.”
“What kind of trouble?”
“Simply put, I can see that you and your group are a bunch of very talented people with high social status. That, in my dictionary, means trouble. I am a very simple person who wants to have some fun. I don’t want any trouble that isn’t worth my time.”
Arthur had kept himself lowkey his entire life. He understood that ever since he was born, he wasn’t destined for any greatness or higher cause. He was simply another person who would live and die and be forgotten soon after. On the other hand, Isla and her group looked like rich heirs to some renowned families in the world.
They most definitely had enemies and opposers and if he involved himself with them long enough, he was bound to become a part of that melting pot of rivalry and hatred.
‘Well, I am certainly doing something different now.’ He thought to himself as he looked up at Isla. That was when he realized that the girl was a little stunned from what he said.
‘Shit, she must’ve gotten offended by what I said.’ He frowned. ‘Oh well, I’m just being honest. I don’t sugarcoat.’
Arthur was always honest with what he thought and expressed himself honestly whenever he could. He wasn’t someone who appreciated lies or deception unless there was a good reason for any of them. If this meant that he was going to face some negative reaction, then he was fine with it.
However, what Isla said next wasn’t as he expected at all.
“You did mention this before. But, why do you believe that I’m going to bring you trouble? I do not like to bring people into my own business.”
“Neither do I.”
“Then, there is no reason for you to feel threatened. I am not asking for you to follow me. I want some cooperation with mutual benefits.” She explained. “You get what you want, and I get what I want.”
“Can I at least know what it is that I might help you do? Give me at least one example.”
“…” Isla pursed her lips as if she found his question hard to answer. “I cannot disclose that.”
“Then, I cannot help you. I might like exploring new things, but I’m not that stupid.” He shrugged as he turned around to leave. “I turn down your offer. Thanks for asking me, though. I appreciate it.”
Then, he started walking away without looking back at all. Although his mind was clear, Arthur still felt weirdly off when he turned her down. Perhaps something deep within him was trying to find good in what she offered. But, he couldn’t bring himself to just follow that without any proper explanation.
‘Dammit, I hate when my curiosity tries to change my mind.’ He sighed inwardly as he tried to get those thoughts off his mind. ‘This is the end of it. I don’t need to talk to her ag-‘
“Hold on a second.” At that moment, the girl spoke again. Arthur stopped and looked back at her. “It’s trust that you are looking for, correct? I believe you want some kind of assurance that you won’t get harmed from such a cooperation?”
“More or less,” Arthur replied.
“Then, how about a temporary collaboration?”
“A temporary collaboration?” Arthur was immediately curious as to what she was saying.
“Yes, my group and I are going to leave the village tomorrow. We have already planned our destination which is the Last Empire’s nearest city, and then the capital. If you wish, you can join us and see for yourself if you can find any benefit in this.”
“…” Arthur squinted his eyes as he looked at her silently. “You’re leaving tomorrow?”
“Yes. The trip might take weeks on foot so it should be long enough for you to make up your mind.”
Isla’s words made a lot of sense and surprisingly, they aligned perfectly with what Arthur was planning. He intended to leave the village in the next few days, and he was trying to look for a group that he could leave with.
Isla’s offer was exactly what he was looking for and to top it off, it didn’t add any weird commitments to his time so after they reached their destination, he could freely move on his own.
‘No matter how I look at it. She does have a point. I can definitely discern if they’re going to bring me trouble or not if I travel with them. If it doesn’t work, then I can try again whenever I can.’ He thought to himself.
Rubbing his chin, Arthur patiently thought about it for a while as Isla waited for his response. However, he couldn’t find any massive downsides to accepting the offer. It was mostly benefits.
‘I mean, I can’t really ask for a better group to travel with since the number 2 player in the world is in it along with extremely strong players. If I can’t make it to the Last Empire with them, then I know damn well I’m never making it with any other group.’ Arthur thought to himself.
If he had to go with random players, he knew they would become more of a burden then they are a help. Finding strong players who can keep up with him was the key point in increasing his chances.
It was simply the best decision he could make. So, he lifted his head up and stared at Isla.
“When are you leaving tomorrow?”
His question made the girl’s eyes flash with a bright glint. Arthur could even swear he saw her lips arc for a split second.
“By dawn. We are going to leave then.”
Arthur nodded his head before he turned around. “I will be there. But, I have one single request.”
“What is it?”
“My way of doing things is very… Unorthodox. So, I don’t think we can have any chemistry or teamwork until I can learn how things work. I hope you won’t mind that.”
While his tone sounded rather apologetic, Arthur was also giving her a warning that her idea of him might not be as good as she expected. After all, Arthur was far from the invincible, all-knowing monster that she might think he was.
He was most definitely a monster, but a very lucky one.
